Second-generation Chromecast with improved Wi-Fi and Spotify support may launch later this month

Google may launch the second-generation Chromecast later this month, offering improved hardware and new features. According to 9to5Google, the upcoming Chromecast may feature Wi-Fi ac connectivity, which will be an upgrade from the Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n on offer with the first-gen model.

The media streamer will allegedly come with a "feeds" option through which you can select content or image feeds that will show up on the home screen. Also new is a Fast Play mode, which allows the Chromecast to establish a connection and play content from connected devices faster than before.

Another new addition is dubbed Chromecast Audio, through which you'll be able to connect the Chromecast to your standard speaker via an auxiliary cable, allowing you to then stream content from a connected device. The feature will allegedly offer support for multi-room playback, along with high-quality audio.

Spotify is also expected to announce Chromecast support during the unveil.

Based on the blurry images in question, it looks like Google is moving away from the dongle form factor, and may launch the new Chromecast in three color variants: black, red and yellow. It isn't clear as to how the Chromecast will connect to your TV or monitor, but with the unveil expected to occur at the Nexus event scheduled on September 29, we should be hearing more shortly.

Yes, you can. There are a couple of PC apps (like Plex Media Server) and a number of Android apps that will stream local media to the TV through Chromecast. Personally I use a Chrome browser plug-in called Videostream for Chromecast on my Windows laptop and an app called BubbleUPnP on my Android. The Android app has a funny name because when my GF read it from the TV screen she saw "Bubble up and pee", so now that's the name of the app in our house.

Saw the Chromecast on clearance at Target last month, and my first thought was "guess they're refreshing the Chromecast", so I'm not at all surprised to see this. Target usually only clears out "permanent residence" electronics like this when there's a new version coming.

I've never really used my Chromecast as much as I would've liked, because I've always had a tremendous amount of "de-synchronizing" issues, where the Chromecast would fail to start playing a show, but my phone would think it was playing, and I couldn't make the phone re-cast OR disconnect. or vice-versa, the Chromecast would be playing but the phone would lose it and I'd end up with no way to control the show. It's amazing how most people rave about how great the Chromecast is, and I've rarely been able to make the thing work. This was when connected to a nice Asus router with good signal and a very snappy (stock) Kit Kat Nexus 5. Maybe the new one will be better...

If there is really multi room support this will be awesome. Poor Beep will effectively close shop as the BEEP only does music at a much higher price and well Sonos might be forced to lower pricing as this could be a true competitor. Someone just needs to make an adapter that can control amp or speaker power from the CES HDMI trigger.

That's what I was thinking. Saw this two weeks ago at my local Target. I've been thinking about getting another one, but they were only discounted to $25 so I didn't bother. They can be found cheaper during sales.

Exactly. I will never buy a smart TV. It makes so much more sense to buy a TV without any smart features, and then add a Chromecast (or Roku, or Apple TV, whatever). That way, you can just replace the Chromecast as you wish rather than having to rely on software updates from a TV manufacturer who couldn't possibly give less of a shit about keeping your features up to date.

I agree no need for a smart TV. But, I recently bought a 55" TV at Best Buy and couldn't really find anything that wasn't a Smart TV. So I just ignore those features. I'm in minimalist mode, I have no equipment attached to my TV except a lone Chromecast.

My wishlist for the new chromecast is:
1. Support more codecs for native playback and passthrough for HD audio.
2. Support 5Ghz WiFi
3. Be more powerful so it can playback encrypted HD streams via Plex for example without stuttering
4. Comes supplied with dongle that you can plug it into Ethernet port

I bought 5 of them for all five tvs. Best thing since sliced bread. . Although sometimes they bug out I'm not sure why. I think google should really give more focus on this. And not rename it to android something lol I like the name chromecast

Lol why do you need a remote? There is not ui or menus. You find what you want to play on your phone, tablet, computer, etc, and you hit cast. It plays. No reason to move backwards to a remote dependent interface.

This. I have several other devices that can stream over wifi (tv, Blu-ray players etc) and having to use a remote to navigate the ui is so slow and clunky compared to using Android. Searching for something on YouTube using my TV's input is worse than texting with a dumb phone.

People in apartments need it bad. The 2.4ghz network is so incredibly congested. I have had streaks of weeks at a time where once or twice a day I have to manually change the channel on the router to get the things on my 2.4 network to work again. I can see over 40 networks and when it happens to my wife, she just yells. I do like it over the fire stick, but at least until we get into a house, the fire stick is the way to go in an apartment setting.

I don't use the mirroring much, its the playback casting options via plex, iPlayer, youtube, play movies, now tv and BT sport which I use the most. I used to use casting for Google photos app slideshow to, but it was removed after recent update, and am now eagerly waiting its return.

I don't see the need for a roku or fire stick, rather remain pure Google anyway.

The fire TV sticks twitch implementation is unforgivable, and while they both do mirroring the miracast in the fire TV stick is flakier than using chromecast in my experience, and I don't like mirroring anyway.

Also being able to have multiple devices add to a queue is excellent. Plus I just prefer the way the chromecast works, to me the fire TV stick has a disappointing user experience, and getting it to do anything other than stream (poorly organised) Amazon content feels like a chore.

I didn't and won't comment on Roku, simply because I've never used one.

More apps (that i use at least) support chromecast. For instance, the Popcorn App on my Windows 10 laptop will not cast to my Roku. Also, Roku mirroring is more clunky as I have to actually switch my input on the tv manually while Chromecast switches the input automatically. Also, you can hit pause/play with virtually any remote to control a Chromecast.

Legit question. What makes them so good? What you get for the $? I don't own one, but they seem quite limiting. I don't get the point of having to cast from a device when things like a Roku or Fire TV has as much or more content and they can mirror and be casted to, as well.

No, you can get Fire and Roku sticks for $50 and less. It's a direct comparison. Sling TV actually gives the sticks away with a subscription. You can get Roku boxes for just a little more than the stick.

I'm just trying to see if I'm missing something about it. Even at $35, I'm not seeing a compelling reason to save a few bucks verse a Roku or Fire Stick.

Hmm... Touche. I actually sideloaded that on my Fire TV but I can't figure out how to navigate. I can see the cursor disappear from the search box and I can hear it click as it moves, but apparently none of the remote button will actually select. :/ I will keep that in mind...

Not sure about the Roku or the Fire TV but the Apple TV let's you mirror to the TV without being on WiFi. Not a big deal for the home user but a good facility for business use if you want to put on a presentation.

The benefit to me has been one, I am usually on my phone or tablet anyway and so while looking at a YouTube video I can just switch it to the TV instantly with the Chromecast button in Google's apps. Second, this is how I play my music through my home theater stereo (awesome BTW), and third it's super easy for my tech challenged husband who watches Hulu that way. It even changes the TV input for him.

Ok I have one.. Basically you plug it into your HDMI port.. Then set it up on your WiFi networks work.. You will then see a castscreen.. Click it select the chrome cast. Netflix YouTube hulu Google play movies Google music stream it all!! Some phones gs4 any nexus you can cast your entire screen.. It's a handy loophole for amazon prime video :)

You can do all that with any streaming box, really. Well, I don't know about the Prime casting, but they have native Apps for it, so... I'm just going to guess, Prime Instant via phone e won't give you access to their +10Mbps 1080p streams.

Chromecast is great IF you don't own another streaming box/stick. There is no real advantage over roku box etc except price.

I don't have another streaming box/stick of any kind but use my chromecast to stream from XBMC/KODI to my tv and sometimes amazon prime video. If I had a roku/fire tv etc I probably wouldn't get a chromecast.

The big deal is most of the casting the Chromecast does is over the Internet, so it's not a drain on your phone battery. You can start a cast and actually leave your house and things continue to play. Also, for the most part the same app on your phone is easier to navigate that app on a fire stick, at least compared to the fire stick. Granted you can't really play games well on the Chromecast, but that's was never the point of it.

There are other similar devices. You find one that fits you, and we will find one that fits us. Its a car vs minivan vs pickup truck conversation. They will all get you to work, its how you chose to use them, and which one fits you better.

If you have a specific question, I am sure we can help you, but I don't see why we need to convince you that in your circumstances you should or should not get one.

Nah, it was just curiosity. Some people are really in love with them and say they can't compare to the other units, so I was kind of confused. Like, "what am I missing about it?". But people just have their favorite, I guess. Trust me, I don't NEED another device. =D. I just never seriously looked into the Chromecast and figured I might be missing something huge.

I have a Roku stick in addition to 4 chromecasts all over my home. One thing in particular I like about my chromecasts is being able to create multiple-choice games (through Kahootz) on my PC and then cast the PCs screen to my TV mounted in the living room. I use the PC as the main "game screen" and the kids all use their devices to answer the questions, which shows their stats on the casted screen... Not to mention, you can run stuff like Showbox from your android phone and play it in screen-mirroring to wherever you cast it...

It's a lot of bang for the buck. At $30 a pop you can turn all of your HD TV's into smart (or smarter) televisions. I think it was a genius idea to make your Android devices the remote control and interface for it. By doing so Android there's no need for a separate app store and there's no having to point and click through a grid of content on your TV. In my house hold all 3 of us own Android phones which means we each have our own remotes with our own source of content to cast to the screen. I think the Chromecast delivers the most personal experience of all media streamers for that reason.

See, its all preference. I can't stand using my phone as a remote. I like the feel of physical button on a remote. I don't even have to look at it to use it. I'm not saying you couldn't do that on a phone, it would just be more difficult. Maybe that's why I personally never seemed interested in it compared to the other options.

Wouldn't say significantly cheaper. Chromecast is £30, Fire TV Stick £35 and Apple TV £49 in UK. You could also get a Miracast dongle for about £20. Having said that Chromecast is about the best £30 I have spent on a tech device.

I would wait until it comes out, then wait for the reviews and finally make a decision whether to get it or not. That is pretty much my decision making strategy when it comes to new stuff hitting the market.